Roger Maris' family still sees 61 as homer record

BASEBALL NOTES

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, September 25, 2011

After 50 years, Roger Maris' family believes his 61 homers in 1961 are the legitimate single-season home-run record.

"The family feels that it's his record, also knowing that is arguable with a lot of people," Roger Maris Jr. said Saturday before a ceremony at Yankee Stadium marking the anniversary.

The event also saluted Mickey Mantle's 54 homers in 1961, and among those attending were Maris' wife, Pat, and six children; two of Mantle's sons; and 1961 Yankees Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Moose Skowron, Bobby Richardson and Bob Cerv.

"I think there needs to be a distinction," another son, Randy Maris, said when asked whether steroid allegations in recent years should cause his father's achievement to be considered the record. "We appreciate everything Mark (McGwire) did, respecting my dad and stuff like that. But it's got to be noted. Since they started drug testing, where are the numbers now? So, there's got to be some kind of distinction."

The record was broken by McGwire with 70 homers in 1998 and then by Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001.

Hegan honored: Former A's first baseman Mike Hegan was honored in a ceremony by the Indians for his 50th year in professional baseball.

Hegan signed with the Yankees in 1961, played 12 seasons in the majors and has been a broadcaster for 34 years, the last 23 with Cleveland.

He was an AL All-Star with the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and a member of the A's 1972 World Series champions.

Season over: Indians outfielder Trevor Crowe is finished for the year after injuring his left shoulder diving for a ball in the first inning of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Twins. Crowe was removed from the game at the end of the inning.